Reevell, whose company makes radio and television current affairs programmes including BBC One’s Heart of the Matter and Radio 4’s The Commission, will be The Desk’s executive producer.

A former deputy home news editor for BBC Television News between 1982 and 1986, she was also the founding editor of Radio 4’s Mediumwave.

“I’m delighted to be working with Tyler again. He has a unique understanding and insight into all aspects of the industry and will give The Desk a distinctive voice in the media debate,” she said.

George Entwistle, executive editor of the new BBC topical arts unit that commissioned the programme, said the department had “a fantastic selection of pitches from some of the brightest and best British indies. We were very impressed indeed by the range and quality of the ideas, but at the end of the process we had to make a decision.

“The Winkontent proposal had a powerful sense of how new technology and an international perspective are set to be dominant themes – plus an energy and style which we felt was spot on for BBC Four.”